Snow Storm Deaths Reach 42 as East Coast Tries to Dig Out

January 26, 2016

(NEW YORK) — A near record snowfall has the East Coast trying to dig out from under a pileup that brought about road closures, major public transit shutdowns, and the closing of schools, government offices and businesses.

Deadly Accidents

There were at least 42 weather-related deaths reported across 12 states and the District of Columbia in the wake of this weekend’s blizzard.

One pedestrian died in Massachusetts after being hit by a snow plow. A postal worker in Georgia was killed when the strong winds blew a limb off a tree and it hit the worker’s vehicle. A mother and her son in New Jersey were killed from carbon monoxide poisoning after their car’s tailpipe was blocked by the snow. Other deaths resulted from car accidents.

Staggering Snow Totals

The blizzard dumped 26.8 inches of snow on New York City, falling short of tying its greatest snowfall ever by a tenth of an inch. With 29.2 inches, Baltimore had its largest snowfall on record and Newark, New Jersey, had its second largest.

In Staten Island, there were 31.3 inches recorded and 22.4 inches in Philadelphia. But the biggest snowfall recorded this weekend came in Glengary, West Virginia, where 42 inches of snow fell.

Federal offices remain closed Monday and schools from Washington, D.C., to the Jersey Shore have given students the day off, but many in the storm’s wake will be digging themselves out and joining the morning rush.

Road crews are working around the clock to clear snow and ice from roads, runways and rail tracks from Georgia to Massachusetts. The Washington Metro system is open with limited service; New York’s MTA is offering modified subway and bus service; and Amtrak has modified service along the Northeast Corridor.

After thousands of flights were canceled over the weekend, JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia are open but still experiencing some delays and cancellations. Dulles and Reagan National resumed limited flight operations Monday.